Articles
Two Kings in Samuel
Two Kings
After hundreds of years of judges, the people of Israel demand a king. Not just any king, they want "a king to judge us like all the nations" (1 Sam. 8:5). The reason they had all the judges was because they were unfaithful to God and His covenant. They would turn from God and do evil. When they cried out because of the consequential situation, the LORD would raise up a judge, a deliverer. They would be faithful while THAT judge lived, but when he died they would again be unfaithful to God.
Now having experience the many years of Samuel's good leadership they realize that his days are quickly coming to an end. His sons are NOT of the same character and did not walk in his ways. They ask for this king to judge them like all the nations. They want a king who can "judge us and go out before us and fight our battles" (1Sam. 8:20). God warns that such a king would exact a heavy burden (cp. 1 Sam. 8:11-18). Knowing this, they yet demanded such a king.
Interesting that God answered their demand by giving them the kind of king they wanted - Saul. I use to think that God possibly choose the wrong person. Perhaps, I thought, God didn't know what Saul was going to be like. I was wrong. God gave them the kind of king THEY asked for. This was not the type of king HE would CHOOSE.
Choosing a king 'like the nations' would be to choose someone on looks and strength. Saul was head and shoulders above all others (1Sam. 9:2). His beginnings appear good but quickly we see that he was in fact like the kings of the nations. He became self-willed. He would not subject himself to the King of Kings. He refused to wait for Samuel to offer the sacrifice but instead took it upon himself to offer it (ch.13). Then, when he was clearly instructed to destroy the Amalekites, he again set his own course and disobeyed God's commands (ch.15). That was the last straw. Samuel informs him that God had declared: "
“Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel.
18 And the Lord sent you on a mission and said, ‘Go, devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’
19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the Lord?”
Samuel continued: "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.”
He then added: "For you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel… The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you" (1Sam. 15:26, 28).
Now God gives them a different King. This is a king that is after God's own heart (1 Sam. 13:14; Acts 13:22). This is a king that looks to serve God by ruling God's people in God's way. God's choice was made not by looking at the outward but by judging the heart (16:7). God's leaders must first be godly. David's heart is a different heart than Saul. Now they will not have a king like the nations, but a king of God's choosing.
Let us be careful what we ask for, we might get it. Let us learn to want what God desires for us.
